But as well as that, he mentioned another former Arsenal favourite whose time at the club has influenced Walcott’s own game.

On Henry, the England international said, “I used to look up to him when I was younger and try to study him very well. Having been moved out to the wing, I’ve had to adapt my game and Freddie Ljungberg is a great example to me now, in terms of making runs off the ball.”

Walcott has recently returned from a long-term injury, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger easing him back into the first-team after so long out.

Walcott has spent a lot of time on the bench in recent weeks, but he has also enjoyed some goal-scoring starts, netting against Aston Villa, Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

He could yet end the season with a trophy, with Arsenal taking on Villa in the final of the FA Cup later this month. And at just 26, and having learned from the likes of Henry and Ljungberg, who is to say how good Walcott could become when he is back to full fitness?

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. He has worked for HITC for four years and is now Head of Editorial and Journalist Standards.